TRRS 503: Railroad Track Switches / Turnouts Explained

31 March 2017 - Janesville, Wisconsin
Turnouts Explained on the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
Railroads soon figured out that some clever mechanical bits would be needed if they ever wanted to have more than one track. Today, nearly all railroad turnouts, or switches, are of the point type, where a set of points are moved to create the alignment.
In the Janesville Yard on the Wisconsin and Southern, Brent Marsh gives a tour group of Michigan Tech Engineering students the details on turnouts, from how they work to what parts go into them.
NOTE: this film was taken and published with the permission of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad. All individuals on the tour wore proper PPE and had authorization to be on property - the WSOR and TRRS remind all to NEVER TRESPASS on the railroad. It's dangerous, it's illegal, and it makes the job much more stressful. Don't do it!
Does railroad engineering sound like a career path for you? Check out Michigan Tech's railroad program by following the link below!
www.rail.mtu.edu
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Videography Equipment:
-Primary: Sony FDR-AX53 4K Camcorder
-Edited with: Cyberlink PowerDirector 13
Copyright 2017 Thornapple River Rail Series by Alex Christmas and published with permission of the WSOR.

[@jerrysinclair3771]

Nicely done. This man knows his stuff and it was worth the 5:00 min to listen to him.

[@Machaing]

Ah the switches!I have seen and maintained all kinds of them during my 40 years with the SNCF. Short ones like the one in this video and the extra long ones on the High Speed Train lines. I'm always interested in the technique deployed by foreign railway companies. Great video. Thanks a lot.

[@rezathenightfly]

The instructor explained everything with such clarity and eloquence. Great work.

[@stuartcrane9385]

Good video. Another good habit to develop is to "hook" the switch after throwing it, even if it's only for demonstration purposes.

[@ChristianNoelTheTrainShow]

good switches

[@brian_2040]

Somewhere the safety man who taught this guy is watching the video with tears in his eyes, so proud of the man he's become.

[@mileshicks2497]

Appreciate the video. Started a job recently where they told me switching and locking out the track is required by federal law yet no one properly showed me how to do it.

[@scdevon]

Very informative. Thanks. I thought I knew a lot about switches / turnouts, but I learned a few things. A+

[@donhunking2286]

Well done . Very informative and proper emphasis on safety safety safety !

[@markklinefelter9263]

Very informative! Loved the green dancing shoes. LOL.

[@yesfandavidb]

Informative, though there were parts I couldn't hear, possibly due to the wind

[@benlundquist2778]

Very good. NOW explain what the red/green colors on the switch stanchion are useful for...yes, I can figure it out...but it's missing from your in depth coverage of the yard switch in the video and it's an integral part of communication.

[@tomstathis8653]

Ben Lundquist, yes, agreed that it’s important. As all railroaders know, you can’t trust the switch position simply based off the SPI. Everyone needs to learn what the colors are SUPPOSED to convey, as well as learn that the ONLY way to assure yourself of proper alinement is by verifying the points before every move.

[@darwestman544]

Great video and explanation on the components and movement of a switch. I am curious if there are any specs in the min and maximum of force required using the hand throw when moving the switch. I noticed you were able to throw this switch very easily. I've seen some,where the person throwing the switch would have to put alot of effort into getting it to lock into place.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Technically speaking, no. What you want is some tension on the connecting rod, but otherwise they should be fairly easy to throw. Basically, step on the hasp, the handle should pop out a bit, easy throw over, then some pressure to lock it in the other hasp. Railroads will lube up the tie plates to help the points slide, and the switch stands get grease as well.

[@darwestman544]

@Thornapple River Rail Series So if I understand this correctly, there is no force gauge used to measure the resistance. The force required to throw the switch is left up to whoever is performing and signing off the inspection whether they are 6'4" and 230lbs or 5'8" 155lbs.

[@banksarooing5133]

These are well maintained switches. At my yard some of the switches you have to throw your weight because it locks up right in the middle of the throw. They lube them up but only lasts 2 weeks... lol

[@sparrowflying864]

The one thing I DIDNT hear him say was never put your hand or foot in the switch. For ANY reason. If there is something in the switch like a can use a stick to get the object out. Never ever use your hands or feet. Be careful when deploying the arm of these switches. If the switch has been damaged it will have pressure on it and can fly up and break your hand or something else.

[@eddandy944]

Why won't the camera man film what he is talking about

[@donaldthomas7070]

Sometimes the mic was so far from him you couldn't hear what he was saying, either.

[@tinkermccardle7393]

The purpose of guard rails in switches is to keep wheels aligned while passing through route past frog. Else the wheels would derail!

[@olufemioladipo683]

Excellent video

[@A3Kr0n]

I can't figure out where this was recorded. It doesn't look like Back of the Yards or Five points. Confused.

[@dropagemonem]

hello, i am writing lyrics for my storytelling rap and i wanna know if it is possible to get stuck by this if you happen to be sittin at that point on rails. like for example, if girls hair got in between, can it trap her? what about feet instead?

[@marvthedog1972]

so what do the colors mean on the switch stand? is it like a boat, meaning if the engineer can see red you're going left and if you see green it's set to go right?

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

When looking down the track at the switch, a green banner means that the switch is lined “normal”, whereas a yellow or red banner (also called a target) will indicate that it is lined “reverse”. Usually the diverging/turning route is “reverse” but depending on the layout, it may be the opposite. Typically in yards, switches may be left as last used, and will have green and yellow targets, whereas switches that are required to be restored to “normal” when not in use will use a green and red target.

[@paulanderson2803]

I can almost see that switch from my back yard.

[@ChristianNoelTheTrainShow]

i love that switch

[@daltonrodriguesferreira6573]

Hello I wonder what procedures you do not to break the railroad track switches? Dalton Rumo Logistica

[@kevinpowell9023]

Can anyone tell me where I can find videos of how to close gaps at the switch points? I watched a couple on servicing switches but they didn't discuss what to do to close the gaps

[@dannyholt105]

cool tour, thanks! Cheers, Dan

[@davecasler]

Very informative!

[@gogetthegoose1]

what are the neon colored items on the boots?I assume steel toe?

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Green ceramic caps for those who didn't have safety toe shoes. They're meant to provide the same protection on a temporary basis.

[@gogetthegoose1]

@@ThornappleRiverRailSeries thank you

[@ToddReuterOutdoors]

How did you get a tour of the WSOR in JVille? I live right up the road!

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

See the description. As a member of the Michigan Tech AREMA chapter, we got a site visit.

[@paulbryan6716]

Interesting video, but very poor audio. I would suggest turning up your microphone volume while recording your videos.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Microphone was turned down due to it being pretty windy that day. I later bought the wind sock for it so I no longer have to do that. It was a compromise, unfortunately.

[@ApproachAspect]

What are the green covers on people's shoes?

[@ApproachAspect]

I thought that's what it was, but just wasn't 100% sure. Thanks.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Correcto, they're hard caps for the folks on the tour who don't own steel toes. We call them "horse hooves" and they're annoying as heck to wear and carry around...coming from somebody who has only had to watch them be used. I'll keep my nice pair of Wolverines :)

[@ApproachAspect]

I agree! They look pretty uncomfortable. I have a pair of Wolverines myself, and they're the best!

[@ohboy3622]

Interesting that they need toe protection. Steel toes don’t do anything but cut your toes off on the railroad

[@willysnowman]

Poor Paddy works upon the railway. He's digging ditches, pulling switches, shagg'n breeches.

[@pablojavier4123]

Hi are they GCOR?

[@scrappycat1647]

Thanks for sharing that !

[@bruce_adams]

Great tutorial!

[@denisetindall1487]

I like train videos on KZbin 👍

[@SugarRayCharles.]

What are spacers and reefers?

[@nakinajay]

What is the CN foreman doing there learning about switches ? Lol. Great video and explanations. From a Former Holland butt-welder Supervisor.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Your CN Foreman was a student in the group who had interned for CN the previous summer :)

[@vince6056]

This guy says every rule right out of the book

[@rickkeeton9246]

Except for the fact that Dave has to have his watchmen gear!

[@gushollahbackatya1765]

Very informative video. Thank you.

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

Is this the guy from extreme trains?

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Nope

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

@@ThornappleRiverRailSeries is he alive

[@michaelpetersen7769]

can you run them up without damage to the switch.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

What do you mean?

[@IfIcommentIlikedthevideo]

These are not run through switches. If you run through it, it will break.

[@tomstathis8653]

Robert Wiehe, look again. This is a National 1003A stand. It can be trailed through without breaking. It has an adjustable crank eye under the stand where it joins to the connecting rod. I repeat, it CAN be trailed through, but these stands were designed so switches wouldn’t break like the 51A style with the butterfly crank...a lot of people are under the impression that these are intended to be trailed through. That is 100% NOT the case. It’s a safety mechanism only. I’ve watched yard trains trail through an entire ladder whacking the points over each switch...bad practice. A terminal manager at an intermodal yard I used to be the rail maintenance supervisor had me follow his yard trains around and report the time and engine number of every single run-through. Trailing through these switches only makes them maintenance hogs, causing them to constantly in need of manual adjustment, or worse, wearing out the internal mechanisms to the point they have to be replaced.

[@philliplee980]

interesting. very cool.

[@tinkermccardle7393]

I’m sure he knows all about switches/turnouts but he needs a mike attached to clothing so audio is better!

[@chrisretusn]

Cool!

[@ricksadler797]

Sweet

[@patrickmaloney1810]

What's on their shoes?

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Some of the folks on the tour didn't have safety-toe shoes, so those are caps designed to make regular shoes safer.

[@AbelG8781]

We call them steel toe caps in construction. You don't want a 15 lb sledgehammer coming down on just regular work boots🙃🙃

[@curtis13450]

Nice

[@vince6056]

He sounds just like the book

[@kaydendye244]

the guy looks like matt bown from Extreme Trains

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

It may be him

[@ianhoffman19]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@oldtown6240]

Only whets the appetite.

[@santafehogger4686]

Yard Limits is a Main Track authority. Doesn’t apply to yard tracks. Maybe he needs to attend a rules class.

[@Jake_Fountain]

Gbp pic flat lux

[@jasbirvirk9769]

too verbal.little practical

[@vijgai3]

Absolutely ridiculous camera work.